California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game
Subdivision 1 - Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles
Chapter 4 - Ocean Fishing
Article 1 - Ocean and San Francisco Bay District
Crustaceans
Section 29.85 - Crabs

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 29.85

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Any individual who fishes for crabs using crab trap(s) pursuant to subsection 29.80(c), shall have in possession a valid Recreational Crab Trap Validation (Section 701, Title 14, CCR).

(b) Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister):

(1) Dungeness crab may not be taken from or possessed if taken from San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, plus all their tidal bays, sloughs and estuaries between the Golden Gate Bridge and Carquinez Bridge.

(2) Open season: Fishing rules for Dungeness crab may be changed during the year or in-season by the director under the authority of subsection 29.80(c)(7). See subsection 29.80(c)(7). for additional information.
(A) Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties: From the first Saturday in November through July 30.

(B) All other counties: From the first Saturday in November through June 30.

(3) Limit: Ten.

(4) No vessel that takes Dungeness crabs under authority of this section, or Section 29.80, shall be used to take Dungeness crabs for commercial purposes.

(5) Minimum size: Five and three-quarter inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines).

(c) All crabs of the Cancer genus except Dungeness crabs, but including: yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs:

(1) Open season: All year. Fishing rules for crabs of the Cancer genus may be changed during the year or in-season by the director under the authority of subsection 29.80(c)(7). See subsection 29.80(c)(7). for additional information.

(2) Limit: Thirty-five.

(3) Minimum size: Four inches measured by the shortest distance through the body, from edge of shell to edge of shell at the widest part, except there is no minimum size in Fish and Game districts 8 and 9.

(d) All crabs of the genus Cancer, including Dungeness crabs, yellow crabs, rock crabs, red crabs and slender crabs, may be brought to the surface of the water for measuring, but no undersize crabs may be placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person's possession or under his direct control; all crabs shall be measured immediately and any undersize crabs shall be released immediately into the water.

(e) Sand crabs (Emerita analoga): Limit: Fifty.

1. Amendment of subsection (a)(4) filed 3-1-90; operative 3-1-90 (Register 90, No. 10).
2. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B) and (b)(3) and filed 3-12-92; operative 3-12-92 (Register 92, No. 20).
3. New subsection (d) and amendment of subsection (a) filed 3-7-94; operative 3-7-94 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 94, No. 10).
4. Amendment of subsections (a)(3)-(4) filed 10-20-94; operative 10-20-94 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 94, No. 42).
5. New subsections (a)(4)-(a)(6) and subsection renumbering filed 2-18-2000; operative 3-1-2000 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2000, No. 7).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B) and amendment of NOTE filed 2-28-2007; operative 2-28-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2007, No. 9).
7. Amendment of subsection (a)(1) and amendment of NOTE filed 10-9-2007; operative 11-8-2007 (Register 2007, No. 41).
8. Amendment of subsection (a)(2)(A) filed 10-30-2008; operative 10-30-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 44).
9. Amendment of subsection (a)(1), new subsections (a)(1)(A)-(B), amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B), new subsections (b)(1)-(b)(1)(A), subsection renumbering, new subsections (b)(2)(A)-(B) and amendment of NOTE filed 11-5-2015 as an emergency; operative 11-5-2015 (Register 2015, No. 45). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 5-3-2016 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
10. Amendment of subsections (a)(3) and (a)(7) filed 11-6-2015; operative 11-7-2015 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2015, No. 45).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B) and (b)(2)(A) filed 11-24-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 48).
12. Amendment of subsection (a)(1), new subsections (a)(1)(A)-(B), amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B), new subsections (b)(1)-(b)(1)(A), subsection renumbering, new subsections (b)(2)(A)-(B) and amendment of NOTE refiled 5-2-2016 as an emergency, including further amendment of subsections (a)(1)(B), (b)(1)(A) and (b)(2)(A); operative 5-4-2016 (Register 2016, No. 19). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-2-2016 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
13. Amendment of subsection (a)(1), new subsections (a)(1)(A)-(B), amendment of subsections (a)(2)(A)-(B), new subsections (b)(1)-(b)(1)(A), subsection renumbering, new subsections (b)(2)(A)-(B) and amendment of NOTE refiled 8-3-2016 as an emergency, including further amendment of subsections (a)(1)(B), (b)(1)(A) and (b)(2)(A); operative 8-3-2016 (Register 2016, No. 32). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-1-2016 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
14. Repealer of 8-3-2016 emergency amendment by operation of Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 2016, No. 45).
15. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 8-8-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 32).
16. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 9-20-2021; operative 11-1-2021 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2021, No. 39). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.
17. .Amendment of subsection (a) filed 12-6-2022; operative 12-6-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) and Fish and Game Code section 265 (Register 2022, No. 49).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205, 265 and 275, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 265 and 275, Fish and Game Code.

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